The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has called for fresh amendments to the Electoral Act, saying additional reforms are necessary to address loopholes and strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking in Abuja during the launch of Shadows, a two-volume book authored by THISDAY Managing Director Eniola Bello, Amupitan stressed that unresolved internal crises within political parties continue to pose significant challenges to the conduct of credible elections.
According to the INEC Chairman, all disputes arising from party primaries and internal affairs should be concluded at least one year before any general election. He explained that such a provision would reduce last-minute legal battles and political uncertainties that often disrupt election preparations. Amupitan also advocated clearer timelines for candidate uploads by political parties, procurement of sensitive and non-sensitive election materials, and adequate testing of electoral equipment before deployment, noting that these areas require stronger legal backing.
Despite acknowledging existing challenges, Amupitan expressed confidence in INEC’s commitment to conducting free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections in 2027. He disclosed that the commission has adopted measures to ensure that collation-related disputes are addressed at the polling unit level before results progress through the electoral process. His remarks come months after President Bola Tinubu signed the 2026 Electoral Act into law, even as debates over electoral transparency and integrity continue across the country.
